COME AND TURN THE PAGES

I Am Proud To Be An American

Americans come from all walks of life and from every nation on this earth. We have a multitude of languages, religions, cultures, and much, much more. What a great country we have.

Why you and I should be proud to be Americans:

1. Freedom

2. Vote

3. Pursuit of your dreams.

4. Unlimited opportunities

5. Human Rights

6. Legal system

7. Hard workers

8. Bill of Rights

9. Diversity

10. Men & Women willing to shed blood to protect our liberty.

To be an American to me means that I am free. That when I grow up I can pick the job I want, what shift to work. And to have a good education. It means that I can say “The Pledge of Allegiance” and that I can vote for the President, my county clerk, and the Mayor. But to me it means most of all to be free and to be proud that I live in the United States of America here in Wisconsin.

“Did you know... that of the original thirteen colonies that attended the Continental Congress and voted on the Declaration of Independence, only nine voted in favor of it?

Did you Know…….that the original Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Christian Socialist, Francis Bellamy?

Did you know….that the first American Flag was sewn by seamstress Betsy Ross in May 1777, at the behest of the Continental Congress?

Did you know……A committee selected the eagle as the national bird of the United States. Benjamin Franklin served on this committee (along with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson) and is notable because he argued fiercely for the national bird to be the turkey.

Did You Know……The youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence was 26-year-old Edward Rutledge. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin. He was 70. Most of the signers were in their 30s and 40s

Did You Know……Over an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed on the Fourth of July. That’s roughly 1 dog for every two people in the U.S.

Did You Know……..Two hundred thirty-three years ago today–July 8, 1776–the Liberty Bell was first rung in Philadelphia, summoning citizens to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Colonel John Nixon

Did You Know….Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence,Missouri.

Independence DayAlso called Fourth of July a U.S. holiday observed every July 4 to commemorate the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Although observance of the holiday began in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, the day was not made a legal holiday until 1941. Traditionally it is celebrated with parades, fireworks, patriotic speeches, and picnics.

I Pledge Allegiance… I Promise to be faithful and true (Promise my loyalty.)

to the flag…to the emblem that stands for and represents.

of the United States… all 50 states, each of them individual, and individually represented on the flag.

of America……. yet formed into a UNION of one Nation.

and to the Republic…. AND I also pledge my loyalty to the Government that is in itself a Republic, a form of government where the PEOPLE are sovereign.

for which it stands…. this government is also being represented by the Flag to which I promise loyalty.

one Nation under God….. These 50 individual states are united as a single Republic under the Divine providence of God, “our most powerful resource” (according to the words of President Eisenhower.

Indivisible….. and can not be separated. (This part of the original version of the pledge was written just 30years after the beginning of the Civil War and demonstrates the unity sought in the years after that divisive period of our history.

with Liberty…. The people of this Nation being afforded the freedom to pursue “life, liberty and happiness”.

and Justice… And each person entitled to be treated justly, fairly, and according to proper law and principle.

for All…….And these principles afforded to EVERY AMERICAN, regardless of race, religion, color, creed, or any other criteria. Just as the flag represents 50 individual states that can not be divided or separated, this Nation represents millions of people who can not be separated or divided.

When we view the flag, we think of liberty, freedom, pride, and Betsy Ross. The American flag flies on the moon, sits atop Mount Everest, is hurtling out in space. The flag is how America signs her name.

According to patriotic legend, Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag at the request of George Washington.

Most of us still learn the legend that George Washington visited her Philadelphia shop and asked her to create a flag for the budding nation.

No firm evidence exists to prove the story; the legend is based on statements made by Ross’s grandson, who said Ross told him the story on her deathbed. Ross definitely was a seamstress and upholsterer in Philadelphia at the time of the Continental Congress, and her role in the creation of the flag has been widely accepted as fact. Her first husband John Ross, a member of the Pennsylvania militia, was killed in an explosion while guarding an ammunition dump. Her second husband, Captain Joseph Ashburn, was captured at sea during the war and died in a British prison; she later married another friend, John Claypoole, with whom she had five daughters. She died in Philadelphia in 1836.

Americans show their pride through the display of the American flag, a symbol of justice and freedom. The same Americans flying the flag may not know these eight interesting facts about their flag.

1. The version of a flag with 13 alternating red and white stripes and a blue square containing thirteen white starts was adopted on June 14, 1777 by the Marine Committee of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, PA.

2. Francis Hopkins of New Jersey designed the flag (and also signed the Declaration of Independence) as well as helping to design the Great Seal of the United States.

3. The “Betsy Ross Flag” refers to a flag containing thirteen stars arranged in a circle.

4. The number of stars on the flag represents the number of current states in the union and thus has been changed multiple times over the years.

5. President Eisenhower set the proportions of the flag with an Executive Order of the President on August 21, 1959. According to this the proportions of the flag are as follows: hoist (width) of flag:1.0, fly (length) of flag:1.9, hoist (width) of union (the blue square containing the stars): 0.5385, fly (length) of union:0.76, width of each stripe:0.0769, diameter of each star: 0.0616.

6. According to the United States code Title 36, Chapter 10 Patriotic Customs, the flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset and during good weather.

7. All schools, court houses and main administration buildings for all public institutions should have an American flag close by.

8. Flags should also be hoisted briskly and lower ceremoniously.

9/11 NEVER FORGET….9-11 isn’t about losing the twin towers; no it’s about all those men and women we lost due to an attack on our country. Every American mourned at the lost of them.

But the good that came out of it is that our country came together and we came out even stronger.

BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, REMEMBER THAT DAY !

I Am The Flag Of The United States Of America………….By Howard Schnauber

I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is “Old Glory”. I fly atop the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am arrogant. I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners, My head is a little higher, My colors a little truer.

I bow to no one! I am recognized all over the world. I am worshipped — I am saluted. I am loved — I am revered. I am respected — and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea, and Vietnam. I was there. I led my troops. I was dirty, battle-weary and tired, but my soldiers cheered me And I was proud.

I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it’s by those whom I’ve served in battle — it hurts. But I shall overcome — for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have borne silent witness to all of America’s finest hours. But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud.

MY NAME IS “OLD GLORY”. LONG MAY I WAVE. DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, LONG MAY I WAVE.

This Declaration states that a government should be run by the wishes of the people and for the people. If this doesn’t happen, the people have the right to revolt. This means Freedom for the United States of American and its citizens.

This is the main reason we celebrate the Fourth of July—FREEDOM

We are free to live our lives the way we choose.

We are free to celebrate in the way we see fit.

We are free to believe the way we want to.

We are free to come and go.

We are free to say what we want, without fear of repercussion.

We are free to spend our money the way we want. (Although we still pay taxes!)

Thank God for our freedoms. They are not to be taken lightly.

Although we are free, let’s not intrude on other’s freedoms, and be respectful of others.

The Star Spangled Banner

On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. The release was secured, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, he was so delighted to see the American flag still flying over the fort that he began a poem to commemorate the occasion.

First published under the title “Defense of Fort McHenry,” the poem soon attained wide popularity as sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The origin of this tune is obscure, but it may have been written by John Stafford Smith, a British composer born in 1750. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931, although it already had been adopted as such by the army and the navy

Listen to this wonderful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. —I Am So Proud To Be An American

HERE ARE SOME AMERICAN FLAG GUIDELINES TAKEN FROM THE OLD FARMERS ALMANAC…….

The flag of the United States is the emblem of our identity as a separate nation, which the United States of America has been for more than 200 years. Therefore, citizens should stand at attention and salute when their flag is passing in a parade or being hoisted or lowered. The U.S. Flag should always be treated with the utmost care and respect. Remember, the flag represents a living country and, as such, is considered a living symbol.

The custom is to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on flagstaffs in the open, but it may be displayed at night upon special occasions to produce a patriotic effect.

When the flag is hung vertically on a wall, window or door the Union (blue) should be to the observer’s left. When the flag is hung either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the Union (blue field) should be to the observer’s left.

The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

It should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement.

It should be displayed at every public institution and in or near every polling place on election days, and at schoolhouses during school days.

When it is displayed otherwise than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed flat, whether indoors or out; or so suspended that its folds fall as freely as though the flag were staffed.

When the flag is used to cover a casket, the union should be at the head and over the left shoulder.

It should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

It should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

It should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored so that it might be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

It should never have anything placed on it.

The flag should never be used for any advertising purpose, nor embroidered on cushions or handkerchiefs, printed on paper napkins or boxes, nor used as any portion of a costume.

When the flag is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem, it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Celebrating the Fourth of July is one of the best parts about summer. You get to barbecue with your family, watch fireworks, go to a parade—take part in all the fun summer activities.

John Adams wrote that the Fourth of July “…ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…from this time forward forever more.”

To me, July 4 is a time of a pride in Soldiers and all Service Members for loving American independence so much that they are willing to go out and defend it. Of course, like all of our patriotic holidays, it is also a time to remember those who gladly gave their lives for that freedom.

While others may wave flags and recall those who bravely signed their names on that independence declaration long ago, my heart swells with pride for those who are willing to sign their names today, promising to defend that independence with their lives.

I urge you to not be one of those Americans who doesn’t know the country from whom we won our independence (psst, it’s Great Britain) or part of the 42 percent who don’t know the year we declared that independence ( it’s 1776).

And now that you know that, have a happy and safe 4th of July!

The Fine Print

This policy is valid from 19 February 2010 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by us. For questions about this blog, please contact Dennis and Barbara Harnsberger at ourfamily2yours.com.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.